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Capitals to Host 2015 NHL Winter Classic in Washington

during the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park on January 2, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Philadelphia Flyers take on the New York Rangers during the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park on January 2, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Credit: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals will host the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1, 2015, the National Hockey League and the Washington Capitals announced today. The game will take place on Jan. 1, 2015 with the Capitals’ opponent and location of the game to be announced at a later date.

“The excitement of the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic continues to grow, and bringing the 2015 event to the D.C. area will write another chapter in the game’s great history of entertainment,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said, “We are looking forward to being in Washington with the Capitals’ great fans.”

The 2015 game will mark the seventh Winter Classic, an annual game that Forbes magazine called the best new sporting event of the last decade. It will mark the second time in history the Capitals will play an outdoor game. Washington defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-1 in front of 68,111 fans at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Jan. 1, 2011.

“We are extremely excited to host the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic and bring this great event to the D.C. area,” Leonsis said. “Our great fan base deserves to experience the magnificence of an outdoor game. We are thrilled to once again be part of this great event.”

The 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the Capitals and Penguins aired in primetime on NBC and was the most-watched NHL regular season game ever in the U.S. with an average of 4.5 million viewers. The event also drew the largest audience on CBC for any of the U.S.-based outdoor NHL games.

The 2015 event also will feature a Spectator Plaza — a free outdoor festival offering hockey-themed attractions, music and fun for fans of all ages.

Further details on the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, including the official event logo, ticketing information and uniform design for each team, will be released in the coming months.